Final answer:
The cornea is innervated by the ophthalmic division (V1) of the trigeminal nerve, which is part of the corneal reflex. Other areas of the eye are innervated by the maxillary division (V2) or by different cranial nerves responsible for muscle control and pupillary response.
Step-by-step explanation:
The part of the eye that is innervated by the branches of the trigeminal nerve (V1/V2) includes sensitive areas such as the cornea.
Specifically, the ophthalmic division (V1) of the trigeminal nerve is responsible for receiving sensory information from the cornea, which is utilized in the corneal reflex, or the eye blink reflex.
This reflex is critical in protecting the surface of the eye, with the sensory input traveling through the trigeminal nerve, causing the motor response to innervate the orbicularis oculi muscle through the facial nerve.
Additionally, certain extraocular muscles are innervated by other cranial nerves, such as the lateral rectus by the abducens nerve, the superior oblique by the trochlear nerve, and the rest (including levator palpebrae superioris) by the oculomotor nerve.